Certification Magazine - January 2008 - (Page 17)

standably, being out of academia for even a short time can weaken your written communication skills, just like being out of the gym weakens muscles. “What does it take to get a job in IT for the first time?” CertMag forum user Southbaydog asked. “I just earned my CCNA certification back in August of this year, and nobody will give me the time of day. I’ve been working with computers for 10 years in one form or another. And let me air a little of my dirty laundry about Dice, Monster, etc. The headhunters practically own those sites; you can’t get anywhere without them getting in the way! I’m not looking for $80,000 a year; I’m willing to work for OK money just to get in. What is the deal? I thought the CCNA cert meant a lot? It really doesn’t seem to be worth all the time I put into it. At least bagging groceries pays something!” “It’s probably something to do with your resume,” cpattersonv1 responded. “More than likely, how you list the ‘10 years in one form or another.’ It took me a while to figure out that although I knew the stuff I was working on was related, most companies looked specifically at job titles and not much else. Consider if you have a lot of turnover on your resume. Don’t list jobs you were at for fewer than six months. If you have unrelated things on your resume, that can reflect poorly, too. Sometimes people put things on their resumes because they see value, where an employer is simply looking for the right fit. Don’t include jobs where you worked bagging groceries if you’re going for IT. “Nobody wants the guy who’s going to come in and do his job the same way every day anymore. Now you have to show that you are able to change with the technology. Show people that you’re up on the latest stuff. If you’re not being called for interviews, it’s more than likely your resume, though.” Another forum poster, Kieran, said that the particular cert in this case, the CCNA, has become more of a requirement than a plus. “If you were looking for the CCNA to get you the job, then I’m afraid you will almost certainly be disappointed,” said Kieran. “Where the CCNA once made a person stand out, it’s now a requirement to simply be on par with many other people. If you truly have 10 years of solid IT experience, get it down on your resume in a way that impresses. That should get you interviews. The CCNA will look good in addition to that.” Unfortunately, Southbaydog didn’t respond further, so as of press time we don’t know if it was a resume issue or a misunderstanding of the value of his particular cert. He or she could have just found that $80,000-a-year job. Either way, as experienced as an IT person may be, he or she still has to remember some self-marketing basics. As fast as software is growing, and with more and more certifications coming out every day, odds are even at best that you may be slightly behind the curve. So, remember to sell the sizzle, not just the cert. If you’re interested in jumping into any of these discussions, please visit our forums at www.certmag. com/forums. 8 – Ben Warden, bwarden@certmag.com January 2008 CERTIFICATION MAGAZINE 17 http://www.certmag.com/forums http://www.certmag.com/forums

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Certification Magazine - January 2008

Certification - January 2008 Editor's Letter Contents Data Stream Tech Careers Academic Connection Dear Techie Virtual Village Making the IT Leap: How to Move Into the Industry Inside Certification Phoning It In: Telecommuting Systems and Networks Engineer Interface Band of Brothers: Why You Should Join an IT Association Ad Index Endtag

Certification Magazine - January 2008

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